Japan has no other eligible senior pair for the second spot right? For that matter, can they scrub together another pairs team? You know, have two random B-level single skaters skate together in the pairs event. It's the closest they'll get to skate on world ice considering the depth in singles.

Japan has no other eligible senior pair for the second spot right? For that matter, can they scrub together another pairs team? You know, have two random B-level single skaters skate together in the pairs event. It's the closest they'll get to skate on world ice considering the depth in singles.

They'd still need to reach a minimum TES score at an ISU sanctioned event prior to the World Championships. All of this costs considerable money, which would be fielded by the Japanese Skating Federation. The JSF is not going to throw away money like this, when they could be lining their own pockets... I mean funding the development of the sport in the nation.

Fun facts about the spots gained and lost after this championship:

Italy gained 2 spots! 1 in women's and the other in men's. This moves Italy up in this particular tally to the club of the Skating Powerhouse Nations (US, Canada, Japan and Russia).

Russia lost 1 spot, in men's. The same kid who won that slot last season helped lose it this time.

China gained 2 spots, including one in women's, thanks to Kexing Zhang. And they do have a slew of up and comers who could make good use of the slot. Unfortunately for China, Song Nan missed out on getting that extra slot for men's. Yan Han, the reigning World Junior champ and a very promising skater, may have to fight for it if he wants to attend senior worlds.

For 2013 Worlds, a few more countries get a third slot in singles. In 2012, only Japan and Russia had 3 slots in women's. In 2013, Italy joins this list! In 2012, only Japan had 3 slots for men's. In 2013, Canada and France joins this list.

The number of countries who have a third spot in pairs and ice dancing remain unchanged. The actual membership, however, had one little swap: Germany loses a spot in pairs while China gains one. Ice dancing remains unchanged, with the three ice dancing bastion nations each with 3 spots: Russia, Canada and the US.